Both Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton admit Sebastian Vettel has set the bar high in the opening races of the season but think he can be caught.
“He’s doing a fantastic job,” said Alonso when asked about the championship leader. “I think all the races he has been nearly perfect with no down races, always performing well in qualifying and doing very good races.”
“Obviously I had two unlucky situations, one in Malaysia, one in Bahrain. Kimi [Raikkonen] was leading the championship, or very close, until he had two unlucky situations: one in Monaco, one in Canada, was a little bit of a mixed race for him.
“So we need to keep fighting We need to keep pushing and recover now these bad races that we have. As Lewis said before I think Red Bull is performing very well, it’s improving from the first part of the championship so we really need to raise our game if we want to arrive to Sebastian because he’s doing a fantastic job.”
Hamilton said he believes Ferrari are more likely to get on terms with Red Bull than Mercedes are: “Sebastian’s doing an incredible job, he’s performing as a world champion and they’re going to be difficult to catch but I don’t think it’s impossible to close the gap.”
“From our side we’ve already closed a huge deficit already. We’re happy here we are but we want to do better. Fernando’s a lot closer, once they’ve sorted out their qualifying they’ll be able to match the Red Bulls, if not beat them. We need to do a lot more work.”
2013 British Grand Prix
- Good rating for British GP despite tyre chaos
- Hamilton voted top driver of British Grand Prix
- 2013 British Grand Prix team radio transcript
- 2013 British Grand Prix fans’ video gallery
- Hembery: Pirelli “not trying to attack anybody”
Image ?? Red Bull/Getty
Juan Pablo Heidfeld (@juan-pablo-heidfeld-1)
27th June 2013, 17:08
Praise for Vettel?!
:P
Nick (@nick101)
27th June 2013, 22:23
Well they can only stroke each others egos for so long before it starts to get boring!
Hang on a minute, I though Vettel was just a poor man’s Nigel Mansell driving a ‘Drinks Company’ car???????
Jon Sandor (@jonsan)
27th June 2013, 17:09
What is this, the First of April?
celeste (@celeste)
27th June 2013, 18:33
We are all in the twilight zone
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
27th June 2013, 17:09
I’m very happy to hear respectful comments coming from both of them: thumbs up for that!
JamieFranklinF1 (@jamiefranklinf1)
27th June 2013, 17:12
Wait, Alonso and Hamilton are praising Vettel? That’s interesting…but in other news, apparently pigs began flying today as well!
Todfod (@todfod)
27th June 2013, 18:18
I think they’re praising Vettel to show Red Bull that they could get along Sebastian, and respect him if they were Seb’s teammates.
After all, there is a seat open in the RB garage… and both Alonso and Hamilton would love an opportunity to beat Vettel in his own team.
Retired (@jeff1s)
27th June 2013, 18:45
Thinking about that @todfod, Hamilton left McLaren maybe one year too early.
Anyway, I love the fact that the 5 world champions are driving 5 different top cars in the grid.
gweilo8888 (@gweilo8888)
27th June 2013, 22:23
I highly doubt that. More likely than not, the ink is already long-dry on Mark’s replacement. He made his decision months ago, and the team will have known for months.
We’ll find out who the replacement is whenever it generates the most positive PR for team and sponsors, but it’s almost certainly already a done deal.
OmarR-Pepper (@)
27th June 2013, 17:26
Probably they had an argument at home and decided to praise somebody else :P bro mance
celeste (@celeste)
27th June 2013, 18:34
bahahahahaha… a break up comming soon
celeste (@celeste)
27th June 2013, 23:27
@omarr-pepper BTW nice avatar ;)
OmarR-Pepper (@)
28th June 2013, 2:20
@celeste thanks, it’s just for today then I return to the pic of Sebastian Raikkonen
TMF (@)
27th June 2013, 17:35
they are right – it’s Seb’s 2nd best start of a season. 2011 he had the advantage of the car. 2013 he seems to be on top of his game and strikes whenever car/tires/track allow it. Similar to Alonso’s 2012 performance.
Colossal Squid (@colossal-squid)
28th June 2013, 1:00
His consistency has been fantastic so far. No way will people rank Seb’s 2013 season alongside Alonso’s last year though! We’ll hear another chorus of “it’s all down to his car”.
Lance (@lancelot)
27th June 2013, 17:56
I must be dreaming. Alonso AND Hamilton praising Vettel? And not saying anything about his car? The world is surely ending.
Mads (@mads)
27th June 2013, 18:09
In other news: Witnesses claim to have seen Helmut Marko kick Hamilton’s dog, and Alonso’s mother into the back of the van. The British police are looking into it, but has no further comments.
Kingshark (@kingshark)
27th June 2013, 20:52
LOL, I’m a fan of Fernando, and I like Lewis more than Sebastian, but that was funny.
tmax (@tmax)
27th June 2013, 18:11
Good to see these matured comments from Lewis & Fernando…. .With time, age and experience comes that maturity and acceptance.
Unfortunately the Kubler Ross Model is in effect here. I am not sure till how long the Vettel-haters remain in the state of denial…. They have a long way to go. Denial followed by anger , Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Some are moving up the ladder. Others are still at Stage 1. Sometimes i Feel sorry for them.
tmax (@tmax)
27th June 2013, 18:13
Good to see these matured comments from Lewis & Fernando…. .With time, age and experience comes that maturity and acceptance.
Unfortunately the Kubler Ross Model is in effect here. I am not sure till how long the Vettel- “Nay-Sayers” remain in the state of denial…. They have a long way to go. Denial followed by anger , Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Some are moving up the ladder. Others are still at Stage 1. Sometimes i Feel sorry for them.
Todfod (@todfod)
27th June 2013, 18:21
Once Red Bull isn’t the fastest car on the grid… I’m pretty sure people in ‘denial’ will be ok.
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
27th June 2013, 18:50
@todfod so the implication from that is again that Vettel is only good because of the car? Watch the 2008 season and listen to Alonso.
Chris (@tophercheese21)
28th June 2013, 2:21
No doubt Vettel is one of the “Big 3” in formula 1.
But as long as Red Bull is the dominant car in Formula 1, you have to wonder what he could do in a less dominant car. (Yes he won with Toro Rosso, but that was a funny race in the rain where car performance is disguised, and he drove a masterful race).
But you cannot deny that 2011 was a product of the Red Bull being incredibly dominant with the exhaust blown diffusers.
Alonso made a very astute statement/observation in an interview with Martin Brundle at a later race in last years championship, where the crux of his statement was:
“In the first half of the year, the Red Bull’s were not particularly strong, so Vettel and Webber were only achieving middle results. Then post-mid-season break, Adrian Newey improved the car, and they started winning the majority of races.”
David-A (@david-a)
28th June 2013, 14:46
@tophercheese21
Red Bull were not dominant last year, and are not dominant this year.
Chris (@tophercheese21)
28th June 2013, 16:21
@david-a
How can you say that when they’re leading both championships comfortably, has top 3 race pace and is a terrific qualifier to boot?
The RB9 IS a dominant car. Not as dominant as the RB7, but still a terrific car.
David-A (@david-a)
28th June 2013, 16:46
@tophercheese21 –
Surely though, there is a difference between a car being considered the best, and it being considered to be “dominant”. RBR lead the constructor’s, and have the most wins (3-2-1-1, with RBR, Ferrari, Mercedes, Lotus), suggesting they have the best car. But merely having “top three” race pace, and having the second best pole tally doesn’t come across as “dominant”.
Force Maikel (@force-maikel)
27th June 2013, 19:38
So it’s all hail the king then. No criticism accepted?
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
27th June 2013, 20:01
@force-maikel there’s a distinct difference between criticism and delusion. I absolutely loathe Alonso but I don’t let that cloud my judgement – he’s a bloody good driver!
Force Maikel (@force-maikel)
28th June 2013, 9:06
@vettel1 I have no love for Vettel but that doesn’t mean I deny this ‘kid’ has been phenomenal over the past couple of years. I just don’t like statements in the likes off: ” I am not sure till how long the Vettel- “Nay-Sayers” remain in the state of denial…. They have a long way to go. Denial followed by anger , Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Some are moving up the ladder. Others are still at Stage 1. Sometimes i Feel sorry for them.”
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
28th June 2013, 11:08
@force-maikel the sad truth is that some do deny his credentials as a driver: it’s the same with Alonso (although from observation to a far lesser extent). I don’t think @tmax was linking this to you.
Force Maikel (@force-maikel)
27th June 2013, 19:07
Just being nice before they pounce?
Atticus (@atticus-2)
27th June 2013, 19:43
Well, fact is, Vettel do makes perfect job race after race. Yes, he makes mistakes occasionally, whereas Hamilton maybe has not put a foot wrong this season at all (Nando did, c’mon Fernando, Malaysia was your fault), but even those mistakes, like the one sliding off-track in T1 in Montreal, came when he was probably sleeping, miles ahead of everyone else.
So Alonso and Hamilton merely disclosed facts.
One can argue if Vettel would be where he is right now without his car, or what would he do if he had a teammate of the highest quality, like Lewis, Fernando or Kimi (we may get a taste of the latter, actually), but in terms of pure execution, he is nearly faultless, that’s a fact.
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
27th June 2013, 21:13
+1 – his ability to handle pressure is immense as well: how he held his nerve after Korea 2010 and that recovery drive in Brazil 2012 were pretty epic.
steve Kennedy
27th June 2013, 20:10
Hey Tmax
You are so right. I get the feeling sometimes that the commenters on this site cannot read the drivers. Seb is exceptional, and those who doubt repeat the same arguments mantra like. I who have my eyes clearly open and do not let my biases get in the way will give credit to any driver who’s ability has been demonstrated.
I am no oracle but once a driver has shown exceptional skills as Seb has I don’t go looking for reasons to knock him down.
Ferando is my favourite driver, yet I recognize he is not the fastest of all but just mabye the most headstrong and determined. And he’s cooler than anyone but Kimi.
Traverse (@)
27th June 2013, 21:22
Real recognises real :)
Latvian (@latvian)
27th June 2013, 22:49
Sebastian is bright talent. And I see nobody who can challenge him. He is the best, and nothing can stop him until he gets old or runs out of motivation.
Matt (@spartacvs)
28th June 2013, 3:03
The sky is falling
Sumedh
28th June 2013, 6:12
Is it a coincidence that these comments come only now when there is an empty seat in Red Bull?
Long overdue praise really. Vettel’s first half of 2013 has been exceptional in recent years. In recent years, only Alonso’s first half of 2012 has been better
91jb12 (@91jb12)
28th June 2013, 10:36
I’ll be biased but Vettel’s 2011 and 2013 (so far) have been right up there with Alonso…. Alonso’s just looks particularly good because it was in a car which wasn’t quite on the ultimate pace
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
28th June 2013, 11:11
Could well be, but both are contacted to their teams for the next two seasons if I’m not mistaken so I wouldn’t call Alonso or Hamilton likely candidates.
+1 on the last part though: I even have to concede with all my Vettel praise that Alonso was stunning at the start of last season. However, Vettel’s not been far off which high praise indeed.
Feuerdrache (@xenomorph91)
28th June 2013, 9:44
Alternative mind strategy by Alonso and Hamilton now since they seemingly couldn’t get under his skin by underrating his good performances this year. Are they now trying to try to disturb his performance by praising him?
It was the first thought that came to mind for me. :D I just hope Vettel keeps performing that well.